Game Blog: Spurs @ Thunder - Game 3

[therealtruth]

No, I think it's time to reinsert Manu in the starting lineup and make the Thunder think twice about Sefolosha keying on TP.

I think Jax may be the better option. He can take Westbrook in the post.

[Limguogolo]

OKC did what Euro teams always do against France with FNT. A good defender on Parker (Westbrook is , and I remember Batum saying that Sefolosha was the best defender in the league, no Howard, Westbrook or Ibaka...) and double team him in high pick and roll. Parker has said that in this condition he passes the ball to Diaw or Duncan, but I've nothing of that. And when finally Duncan has the ball, it's an isolation and four other guys stop moving... As the spacing and the ball movement is the best thing for the team, that's not good.

They need to be more aggressive on the movements, make screens, and move this damn ball with confident passes. And it's not possible if Parker keeps dribbling and Diaw don't ask for the ball -- or other players. Against two players, it's almost a turnover. And obviously he needs to pass the ball before the help. If he continues to move off the ball, Sefolosha will have the same problem Westbrook has had in the traffic. There's no secret, Sefo on Parker was a major impact, but the Spurs were also too moribund, less implicated and aware.

And if Parker can't give the ball to Diaw or if Diaw turn the ball over, perhaps it's time to experiment for one game Splitter, then Diaw playing with Ginobili in the second unit.

But less Westbrook, a more implicated Durant and more minutes for Sefolosha, it's automatically a better team.

[Obstructed_View]

Sefolosha switching to TP is major cause for concern because his length bothered him all night and that was the major reason we lost tonight. The Spurs need to counter that move but the worrying signs have been there since Game 2 in the 4th quarter and allowing OKC to score 111 points that night.

The way you counter it is to have a big man set a pick out at the three point line. The only pick and roll the Spurs ran before the game was out of hand was with Gary Neal and Matt Bonner which resulted in an offensive foul.

[DBMethos]

The way you counter it is to have a big man set a pick out at the three point line. The only pick and roll the Spurs ran before the game was out of hand was with Gary Neal and Matt Bonner which resulted in an offensive foul.

This. Pick and rolls were sadly nonexistent in this game. I can't remember I saw the Spurs run so many iso's.

[therealtruth]

The way you counter it is to have a big man set a pick out at the three point line. The only pick and roll the Spurs ran before the game was out of hand was with Gary Neal and Matt Bonner which resulted in an offensive foul.

I agree they need more spacing on their pick and rolls and to allow the guard to attack the big man at full speed.